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MMA Grand Prix

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MMA Grand Prix
SportMixed martial arts
Founded2020; 4 years ago (2020)[1]
FounderAbdel Khaznadji
Éric Konako Faubert[2][3]
Owner(s)Fight Sport Management[4]
HeadquartersVitry-sur-Seine,
Val-de-Marne, France[1]
TV partner(s)Sport en France
RMC Sport
Official websitemmagrandprix.com

MMA Grand Prix, often abbreviated MMA GP, is a professional mixed martial arts promotion based in Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, France.[1]

History

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MMA Grand Prix was created in 2020, upon the legalization of MMA's internationally accepted rules (which include ground strikes) by the French government. Their first card was held on 8 October of that year, in presence of French Minister of Sports Roxana Maracineanu.[5] It was the first organization to present MMA in France under its complete ruleset.[4] It is sanctioned by the French Mixed Martial Arts Federation, a subsidiary of the French Boxing Federation, which has been accredited by the Ministry of Sports to regulate the activity.[6]

Co-founder Éric Konako Faubert is a London-based promoter for Muay Thai Grand Prix, an international thai boxing promotion, with whom MMA Grand Prix shares common branding.[2]

The promotion's first card held outside of the Paris region, The Last of the Kings in Le Havre, featured a comeback fight from veteran kickboxer turned mixed martial artist Jérome Le Banner. It served as a tribute to Le Banner's training partner and Le Havre mayor Édouard Philippe who, during his term as prime minister, was responsible for the legalization of French MMA.[7][8] It was Le Banner's first MMA fight outside of Japan.[9]

Champions

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Current MMA Grand Prix champions

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Men's division Upper weight limit Champion Since Title Defenses
Light Heavyweight 205 lb (93.0 kg) Algeria Mohamed Said Maalem Sep 16, 2023 0
Lightweight 154 lb (69.9 kg) Brazil Keweney Lopes Jan 27, 2024 0
Featherweight 145 lb (65.8 kg) Vacant N/A N/A
Bantamweight 135 lb (61.2 kg) France Alfan Rocher-Labes Sep 16, 2023 0
Flyweight 125 lb (56.7 kg) France Michael Aljarouj Mar 4, 2023 1

Light Heavyweight Championship

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Weight limit: 205 lb (93.0 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 Algeria Mohamed Said Maalem
def. Yann Kouadja 		MMA GP: Kouadja vs Maalem
Le Grand-Saconnex, France 		Sep 16, 2023

Lightweight Championship

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Weight limit: 154 lb (69.9 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 Brazil Keweney Lopes
def. Mathias Poiron 		JSC 1
Nimas, France 		Jan 27, 2024

Featherweight Championship

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Weight limit: 145 lb (65.8 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 France Alioune Nahaye
def. Ariston França 		MMA Grand Prix 4
Paris, France 		Oct 14, 2021
Nahaye vacated.

Bantamweight Championship

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Weight limit: 135 lb (61.2 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 France Alfan Rocher-Labes
def. Deiby Tachon 		MMA GP: Kouadja vs Maalem
Le Grand-Saconnex, France 		Sep 16, 2023

Flyweight Championship

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Weight limit: 125 lb (56.7 kg)
No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 France Michael Aljarouj
def. Ezzoubair Bouarsa 		MMA GP: Doumbe vs Klimas
Paris, France 		Mar 4, 2023

1. def. Liridon Ramani at JSC 1 on Jan 27, 2024

Notable fighters

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Media

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Select MMA GP shows, including the company's inaugural card, have aired on the UFC Fight Pass.[2] In May 2022, the promotion inked its first television deal with Sport en France. However, French media authority CSA still bans MMA broadcasts before 10:30 pm, forcing some fights to be shown on tape delay.[6] MMA GP made its premium TV debut with a 17 December 2022 card from Bordeaux, which was broadcast on RMC Sport 2.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Fight Sport Management". pagesjaunes.fr. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Duseaux, Guillaume (8 October 2020). "Le MMA débarque en France : focus sur le premier événement à Vitry-sur-Seine". radiofrance.fr. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. ^ Maître, Jean-Baptiste (8 October 2020). "MMA. Qui sont les deux hommes à l'origine de la première soirée officielle en France ?". ouest-france.fr. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b Godefroy, Greg (15 September 2020). "MMA : les premiers combats officiels en France auront lieu en octobre". radiofrance.fr. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  5. ^ Lalanne, Gaspard (9 October 2020). "MMA GP : Le tout premier évènement de MMA en France". actumma.com. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b Saison 4 : Les annonces (in French). Sport en France. 22 September 2022. Event occurs at 44m44s. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  7. ^ Desaint, Benoît (3 June 2022). "Jérôme Le Banner fait des confidences sur 'la bonne droite' d'Édouard Philippe avant son combat au MMA GP". gentside.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. ^ Le Coz, Yohann (3 June 2022). "Jérôme Le Banner : 'J'espère qu'il va bien me casser la gueule une bonne fois pour toutes'". eurosport.fr. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  9. ^ "'Geronimo' Jérome Le Banner". tapology.com. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Mixed Martial Arts Grand Prix". tapology.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  11. ^ Angelini, Olivier (15 December 2022). "MMA GP : Doumbe vs Burillon – Quelle heure, quelle chaine ?". boxemag.com. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
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